Dear Poll: Is It Taboo to Recycle Your Ex's Cologne?

Dear Poll: Is It Taboo to Recycle Your Ex's Cologne?

It looks like I am not alone when it comes to having a strong connection to remembering scents on a man — thank you for sharing all your favorite smells! Now let me ask you this. If you grew to really like a specific scent, but your ex boyfriend wore it, do you think it's taboo to buy the same cologne or after shave for your new boyfriend?

I wouldn't call it taboo, but I personally couldn't do it, because I have very strong scent-association. Certain smells recall specific people in my life, vacations I went on, etc. Two examples--my last ex and I both wore Romance (I had it long before we met, he bought the guy's version), and when the relationship ended, I was searching for a new scent. Now, I'm getting married in six months, and I decided to ditch the primary perfume I've worn for the past few years because I feel like I'm in a different place in my life. It's literally taken me months to find the right perfume.

If you like the scent because it reminds you of the ex, then don't do it. If you like it because it smells good, then you have to decide if the new beau would be okay with it. Full disclosure, tell him about the ex's scent and how you think it would smell really sexy on him. Reassure him you don't associate the scent with the ex; you just think it smells nice. If he's not comfortable, ditch the plan.
I wouldn't just not tell him that the ex wore the same scent. It's like tricking him for your own benefit.

Other. Everyone's body chemistry is different and the same cologne is not going to smell the same on different men. So what's the point, anyway? And he'll likely think it's creepy if he ever finds out the ex had the same cologne (these sort of things have a way of NOT staying hidden). I mean, I wouldn't be so much "jealous and insecure" and more MAJORLY CREEPED-OUT if a guy try to make me smell like his ex.

I think it's okay, as long as you know you love your current boyf and it's only the SCENT you like. Not because it strikes up some memory of some mind-blowing tantric sex you had with your ex.But then again, I'm not even a big fan of scents in the first place. Boys smell best when they're clean. Not all sprayed up.

I think it's okay, as long as you know you love your current boyf and it's only the SCENT you like. Not because it strikes up some memory of some mind-blowing tantric sex you had with your ex.
But then again, I'm not even a big fan of scents in the first place. Boys smell best when they're clean. Not all sprayed up.

For me I would likely have negative associations with the scent and would want to move on. I get tired of wearing the same perfume at different stages in my life-- same goes for colognes on men. Plus, it probably wouldn't even smell the same with the new guy's skin chemistry...

i chose other because I think that smelling my ex's cologne on my new guy would only upset me...so i guess it has to do with how you feel about that ex. I personally don't think I could ever do that, because I'd get a pit in my stomach every time I smelled it. =(

It will probably smell different on each guy, so I don't think it's that much of an issue. But *giving* him the scent your ex always wore does seem like the kind of thing that could foment a little insecurity...

I said no but not because I think the new boyfriend would be jealous. I have a very sensitive nose and strong connections to scents so I wouldn't want my new beau to smell like my ex. I love getting to know and love a new scent...it's just about one of my favorite things in the new part of a relationship!